Torrington Titans drop close game to Pittsfield Suns

PITTSFIELD >> It was a short day for the Torrington Titans, who went from playing 17 innings against Brockton on Thursday night to dropping a game at Pittsfield on Friday night.

“These guys put forth a hell of an effort,” Titans manager Dan McNamara said. “Coming in after a 17-inning game, this was a hard-fought game on both sides. The other side just happened to win.”

Pittsfield broke a 1-1 tie on a run-scoring single by Jeff McGarry in the bottom of the sixth inning and reliever Alex Lagos threw two scoreless frames to help the homestanding Suns hand the Titans a 2-1 loss Friday night at Wahconah Park.

The Titans got the first two runners on base in the ninth inning. Mike Odenwaelder led off and reached on an error by Pittsfield second baseman Tad Martin. McNamara called a hit and run with Sam Warren swinging the bat. Warren’s hot smash would have been a clean single normally but Martin was moving to cover second and couldn’t handle the ball for an error.

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R.J. Going moved the runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt and then the Pittsfield side-arming right hander got Zach Brown on a grounder back to the box. The next hitter was Matt Batten and he went the other way on the pitch. The grounder nearly got through, but Pittsfield first baseman Brenden Geary ranged far to his right to make the play. Lagos just beat Batten to the bag for the final out.

“At first, I almost forgot to get over there, but then it clicked in my head ‘Get over, get over,’ “ said Lagos before the post-game fireworks show started. “I think it was the coaches in my past telling me to get over there.”

Torrington got on the board first when with one out, Pittsfield starter Jamin McCann walked Jack St. Clair and gave up a single to Taylor Olmstead. Odenwaelder hit an 0-1 pitch down the right field line for an RBI double, but McCann struck out Warren and got Going on a fly ball to right to end the threat.

Through three innings, Titans left-hander Mike Bonaiuto kept the Suns

-- who had scored 16 runs in two losses to start the year -- under

control. Pittsfield had one base runner in three innings, and that was on an infield single by Derek Gardella.

“I saw a guy that deserved the role I gave him after spring training,”

the Titans manager said. “He came after guys, right after hitters. When guys got hits, he wasn’t afraid to come after the next guy.”

Pittsfield tied the game when Luke Reynolds singled to short to open the fourth inning. Two outs later, Gardella drove a 1-2 pitch to deep center field for an RBI double.

The Suns took the lead two innings later. Reynolds led off again, this

time reaching on an error by Going at second. Mike Valentin Jr. blasted a double to center, but Reynolds was thrown out at home trying to score. Valentin went to third on the throw and scored on a single by Jeff McGarry.